Selling Your Home in Winter

A lot of sellers believe that selling in winter isn’t a great idea, but this really isn’t the case. There isn’t that much of a difference in results between seasons when it comes to selling, and if you can present your home in a favourable way at the right price, it will sell no matter what the season. Here are my favourite tips for selling your home in winter! Quick note, I know it doesn’t snow here (or in most parts of Australia), but I couldn’t pass up the picture! It looks so magical!

1. Lighting

When discussing open home times with your agent, choose an inspection time that will maximise daylight. This will not only brighten the home during the inspection so that it doesn’t feel dark and musty, but it will be warmer and more comfortable for the buyers.

Not just daylight, but mood lighting makes a great big cosy impact. Table and floor lamps are a cost effective way to create atmosphere in a home, not to mention their moveability to create light wherever it’s needed at different times of the day!

2. Cosy colour & textiles

Rugs and thick curtains are great insulators (though if the inspection is during the day, leave the curtains open and let the sun shine in with its glorious heat!), and adding some throws on the beds and the couch helps add that touch of warmth and comfort. Why not throw some extra pillows on the beds to make everything feel snug? The less buyers are thinking about the cold, the better their inspection.

Rugs, cushions and throws are all cheap ways to add subtle colour to your home. Warmer, earthy tones are wonderful, and a pop of yellow here and there never goes astray. Feeling like the walls are a little bare? Frame some colourful artwork that you picked up at the local markets and hang them up where you need a boost of life!

3. Climate control

If you have a scheduled open home or your agent has called you for a private viewing, consider heating the cooler parts of your home to make them a more comfortable temperature. Perhaps bake something in the oven beforehand to add some extra heat to chilly tiled kitchens (I don’t really recommend baking before inspections; winter is my only exception!) with delicious warming smells. Light some candles around the home to give off a little warmth and ambience, and close the windows to keep the toasty air in before they arrive.

You don’t want buyers to come away from an inspection when all they can talk about is how cold they were!

4. Winter gardens

If the gardens are your homes biggest selling point, then I’d probably recommend waiting until spring to list because that’s when it will look its best. If not, there are plenty of ways to make your garden winter ready! Plant some winter veggies or flowers & keep outdoor areas clean and free of fallen leaves. Wet weather can cause outdoor surfaces to become slippery and dull looking; organise some pressure cleaning to be done (this is an easy DIY if there isn’t much to be done!), and have the driveway/pavement cleaned so it looks brighter on duller days, and isn’t slippery. Treat any wooden surfaces like decks or balcony’s with weather protector, and put away any outdoor furniture that doesn’t look too crash hot in bad weather.

And there you have it! This list, along with our Open Home Hacks is a great way to prepare your home for sale and inspections during the chilly months of winter. Do you have any tips for home presentation in winter? Let me know in the comments. And remember to stay warm! 🙂